This week in pictures: Road Trip!!!

Oh my goodness, I have taken SO MANY pictures this week. It kind of amazes me that I am still so passionate about photography, and that even after turning it into a viable business, it still remains something I love to do. Not only do I love chasing a good photo, but I am so delighted to be able to capture moments like family visits. Both my brother and Beloved’s sister live out of town, and it’s great to be able to preserve memories of our all-too-rare times together.

This was a mobile shot of the first day of our road trip. We left Ottawa just after 7 am and arrived in Windsor in time for dinner. It was crazy stinking hot, but the kids were terrific and the drive was surprisingly easy. Next time we’re leaving at 5 am!!

It was only in seeing my nephew’s stepson and Lucas together that I realize Lucas is no longer a chubby toddler himself. When exactly did that happen?

After a (too) quick visit with family in Windsor, we traveled with them to spend a day at Greenview Aviaries just outside of Chatham, which is conveniently about half way between Windsor and London. My brother and his family came down from London and met us there as well. This is the first time since Beloved and I got married that we were able to spend time with both sides of the family like this, and I am so happy it worked out. Even a rather spectacular thunder storm and nearly losing Lucas (my heart still races when I remember those terrifying 3 minutes when I couldn’t find him) didn’t dampen the fun. This is my niece and Lucas.

(Not an official photo of the day, but I couldn’t not include a photo of my brother making out with a camel. I’m sure you understand.)

That night we stayed with my brother’s family in London. God forbid we not spend more hours in the car, for the next day we headed off to Lake Huron for a few hours. One of the things I miss most about my childhood in London is the easy access to the beaches on Lake Huron. I think I was a fisherman in a previous life, because just being near the water makes my soul sing.

With the exception of the mobile shot of Lucas above, all of these photos were taken with the 10-20mm wide angle lens I rented for the week. OMG how much do I love it? Not exactly for portraiture, but great for sweeping vistas and landscape shots. I specifically chose to rent it for this trip, knowing that a beach visit was likely, and also thinking about the farm land that surrounds London. One morning at dawn when I was up before everyone else, I crept out and drove around the concession roads north of town, which have not changed a bit since I was a child. This is the kind of shot I had in mind when I rented the lens.

All good things must come to an end. This is four of five cousins and one very pesky puppy enjoying our last morning together, before the six-hour drive back home to Ottawa.

Willie? Did not really miss us while we were gone.

And then, sadly, the wide angle lens also had to go home. We made a day trip out of our trek to return it, stopping by Sugar Mountain on the way.

What a week!! And that was just the FIRST week of our summer vacation – there’s still several more to come!

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Hi, I’m Danielle Donders, but my friends call me Dani, and the Internet calls me DaniGirl. I'm a Canadian photographer, blogger, government social media strategist and mom to three boys. Everything else you need to know - and a whole lot more! - is in the blog.

My least favourite of the Anne books so far. I could feel the boys' attention wandering as odd and quirky characters wandered in and out of the narrative. Any book with Anne Shirley in it is a wonderful story by default, though.